Review of Les Misérables (2012) by Jane L — 19 Feb 2015

I honestly don't know what the problem is.

LES MIS is a fantastic film. It captures the epicness and grandeur of the original show, has a wonderful production design, a fun cast of actors trying their damnedest to put on a great show, and it has a wide, easily accessible audience. I had never seen the show before or listened to the soundtrack when I saw this film, and now I have seen the Broadway show and the film, as well as the TV miniseries, and listened to the original 1980s soundtrack. And guess what, I still can't figure out why people relentlessly hate on this film. Is it the weird editing? That's NOT a solid reason to hate the film! Is it Russell Crowe? Okay, listen. Tom Hooper, the excellent director of THE KING'S SPEECH, decided to make a big project about an incredible musical with actors as opposed to talented singers. True, Russell Crowe turned in a mediocre performance, but his singing was not that bad, considering he is, need I remind you, NOT A PROFESSIONAL SINGER SINGING LIVE IN FRONT OF ROLLING CAMERAS. Hugh Jackman and, of course, Anne Hathaway, were fantastic, as was the supporting cast (Eddie Redmayne and Amanda Seyfried in particular, as well as Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen). The film keeps the exact same structure as the original musical, the same characterization, and even the same songs (except that one song they added that will soon forgotten). There are NO DIFFERENCES between this and the original production, meaning that purists and fans of the original will (or at least SHOULD) be open to this film. Newcomers who want a taste of LES MIS will also enjoy this film. Please rewatch this with an open mind and tolerance for rugged singing.